1979 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Second Round - Twin Cities


Edina Cake Eaters vs Hastings Rivermen
The Hornets nest was buzzing yet again as the Cake Eaters looked to make it 10 straight Super Series appearances. Hastings had their work cut out for them, never playing a team of this caliber in their 8 year history. The Eaters broke first blood midway through the first, gaining momentum and extending their lead to 2 before the period came to a close. Edina got the scoring started in the second as well as Nanne buried a backhander under the bar to put the Cake Eaters up 3-0. Hastings got a bit of life with a powerplay that allowed the Rivermen their first bit of sustained pressure in the game. The powerplay was capped off with a shot from the dot that beat the goalie to make it a 3-1 game. Edina, unphased, bounced back with a goal of their own with a minute and change left in the second. Hastings needed to come out flying if they wanted to have a chance at coming back. The Rivermen were being very aggressive as the third began, taking some risks, but they paid off. Edina tried to break out of the zone, but the Hastings defender decided to pinch and risk an odd man rush the other way, luckily he was able to block the chip off the boards to keep it in the zone. Edina had to quick get back into defensive position, but before they were able to a Hastings forward received a pass in the slot where he deked out the Edina goalie to make it a 4-2 game. Edina would once again bounce back with a response, putting home a rebound to all but put the game away. The final horn sounded to send Edina back to the Super Series yet again as they look for that illusive first Cup, defeating Hastings 5-2.

Stillwater Volunteers vs Richfield Roosters
A battle of two ranked opponents, 9th seeded Stillwater looks to make the Super Series for the first time, but number 11 Richfield is determined to make it themselves. This was an incredibly competitive hockey game with both teams playing to their strengths. After 60 minutes we were tied at 2 in Stillwater so we went to overtime to decide a winner. We passed the midway point in overtime with both teams having some chances, but neither could put it away. The Vols won a draw in the offensive zone and passed it d to d for a one timer from the point. The shot hit a body in front and was loose in the slot. It was picked up by a Volunteer who dished it to his teammate for a quick shot that beat the goalie short side, sending Stillwater to the Super Series for the first time ever with a 3-2 overtime win over Richfield.

Highland Park Flying Aces vs New Brighton Polka
It was a high scoring battle at Highland Arena between the Aces and Polka. Highland was in control of the puck for the majority of the game, outshooting New Brighton 33-24 in the game. Despite this, the Polka were able to keep this one interesting for the full 60 minutes. The two combined for 10 goals on the night, but it was the Flying Aces who came out on top in the end, edging out the Polka by a final score of 6 goals to 4, clinching their first Super Series birth in their 6th season.

West St. Paul Waves vs White Bear Lake Braves
Another battle of ranked foes, the Waves and Braves game was as much of a battle as a hockey game can get. Despite both teams being primarily skill focused squads, this one was much grittier with both teams clogging up skating areas and fighting along the boards. White Bear got on the board with the games first goal with 2:02 left in the first to bring a lead and some momentum into the period break. The second was scoreless on both sides, so the Braves just needed to hold on for 20 more minutes. West St. Paul began to turn up the intensity as the third got under way, setting up the offensive zone for long periods of time. A pass from the boards to a defenseman dropping into the slot was ripped for a one timer that blew past the White Bear goalie into the netting to tie the game at 1. The intimate setting at John V. Hoene Arena became electric after the game tying goal, the "Lets Go Waves" that echoed off the walls were deafening and the Wave players were clearly feeding off the energy. It was all WSP after the game tying goal with White Bear Lake pinned deep in their zone, unable to do much besides just ice the puck for a whistle. It was only a matter of time with how much the Waves were buzzing, the Braves were trapped out on the ice without a change for over a minute and a half as West St. Paul worked the puck around the zone. A winger carried the puck below the goal line and behind the net, looking towards the slot and passing to his teammate on the far side dot who ripped a shot hard and low. The Braves goalie got a piece of it, deflecting it into the pipe, but the loose puck sat just outside the goal line in the crease. A Wave forward spotted the puck and dove toward with his stick, poking it across the line before White Bear was able to get to it. The Waves killed off the rest of the clock, holding on and advancing to the Super Series for the first time in team history with a 2-1 comeback win.

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The Aces and the Vols did it!  It's gotta feel good to be within reach of the big one after so many years of being at the bottom...still rootin' for my Aces though, but I know all the games will be great ones!

BTW, all the Playdowns byes are officially spoken for, as the Top 4 Power Rankings teams all won their games...I think our new system is working.

1979 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Second Round - South


Austin Mavericks vs Marshall Pheasants
It is a rematch of the 1976 second round with Marshall taking out the Mavericks to advance to their first Super Series. Austin has been one of the most consistently dominant teams in the South the last couple years and look to avenge their loss 3 years ago. Austin broke through first on a shot that just snuck through the Pheasant goalies arm to put the Mavs up. Marshall responded with a goal of their own in the final minute of the period to tie it at 1 after 1. The rest of the game repeated this theme with both teams going back and forth with chances, and on the scoreboard as the Mavericks once again took the lead with Marshall knotting it up later on. The game was tied at 2 at the end of regulation, so it was time for some free hockey at a sold out Riverside Arena in Austin. It didn't take long into overtime for the Mavericks to get a scoring chance, intercepting a pass in center ice and going in 2 on 1 on goal. The defenseman played in the center but once the Mavericks got to the circle he stepped up on the puck carrier, attempting to poke it free. The Maverick winger chipped the puck over the Pheasants stick to his teammate who redirected the puck towards goal, beating the goalie and winning the game for Austin, extending their Super Series streak to 3.

Sioux City Shockers vs Sioux Falls Packers
The Sioux City Municipal Auditorium was packed with over 3,700 fans to witness the Sioux Rivalry in the biggest game of the season. We were scoreless through 2 with both goalies on top of their game. City was given a penalty for slashing 11 minutes into the third to give the Packers their third powerplay chance of the game. The faceoff was won by the Hogs and worked along the boards. A Packer forward made some space for himself to receive a pass into the slot that he deflected on goal, beating the Shocker goalie to put Sioux Falls up 1-0 with under 10 minutes left to play. Some time passed with both teams getting some shots on goal, but no real chances. The Packers broke out of their zone and ripped a shot from the top of the circle that was stopped, but the rebound was loose. A charging Hog was the first one there, slapping it into the net to give Sioux Falls a little bit of a cushion up 2-0. The Shockers would not get one past the Packer goalkeeper, getting shut out on home ice 2-0 by their arch rivals who are heading back to the Super Series after a 2 year hiatus.

Mankato Moose vs Winona Wildcats
This one got off to a wild start with Mankato winning the opening faceoff, but then immediately coughing it up to a Wildcat forward who took it in all alone on a breakaway to put Winona up 1-0 only 8 seconds into the game. Things were looking good for Winona, taking an early lead on the road to get the crowd out of it, but unfortunately for the Cats the Moose wouldn't stay down forever. Mankato tied the game up and then struck again to take a 2-1 lead into the second. Winona was able to keep the Moose off the board in the second despite allowing 13 shots on goal in the period, but Mankato would open things wide open in the third with two more unanswered goals to all but secure the win. The final horn sounded to signal the end of Winona's first playoff run as Mankato punches their ticket to St. Paul with a 4-1 win.

Inver Grove Heights Lions vs Burnsville Bucks
Inver Grove hopes to keep their first playoff run alive as they take on South Metro foes Burnsville. It was the visitors who got the scoring started in this one with the Bucks getting a breakaway on the penalty kill for a short handed goal to put them up 1-0. Burnsville extended their lead to two, but it was short lived as the Lions scored through a screen to make it 2-1. IGH was not done there though, capping off a high scoring first with a shot pipe and in to tie the game at 2. Inver Grove carried that momentum into the second as they scored to take their first lead of the game. Burnsville would come clawing back in the third though, knotting the game at 3 and forcing overtime. It was just past the 5 minute mark of overtime when the Lions dumped the puck deep and won the battle in the corner to win control and set up. A man was open at the top of the circle who got a pass for a one timer that got through a couple bodies in front, blowing past the goalie and into the twine. Inver Grove players came spilling over the boards to celebrate, the Lions are heading to the Super Series for the first time with a 4-3 overtime win.

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It's all good, Winona...your city has EVERY reason to be proud of you.  The best is yet to come.

Congrats to IGF for joining the First-Timers Club..., between them, the Trappers and the Aces, looking at the bracket, we are guaranteed at least one first-timer in the Semifinals.

Dan O'Mac wrote:

Ah, but the real question now that Winona is out: who beats the Cake Eaters?

Bearcats, maybe?